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Chicago Streetcars in Black-and-White, Part 6

This is the sixth installment in our ongoing series Chicago Streetcars in Black-and-White. You can find the other five installments (and the others we have done in color) by typing “Chicago streetcars” in the search window for this blog.

We offer you another generous selection of classic photos by some of the greatest railfan photographers of all time. As always, clicking on each picture will bring up a larger version in your browser.

If you have interesting information to share about these locales, we look forward to hearing from you. When referring to individual photos, please use either the car number or image number.

I am continually amazed at how expert our readers are at identifying mystery locations. The information we provide comes generally from what’s written on the back of the print, and this may not always be totally correct. That’s where our eagle-eyed readers can help correct the historical record.

-David Sadowski

CSL 5702 at Archer-Rockwell Station (Carhouse). (Joe L. Diaz Photo)

CSL 5710. Andre Kristopans says, “SB on Coles at 79th. Tracks curving to left were used by Windsor Park cars, 5710 will curve onto 79th to the right. Note that buildings on South Shore, a block to the right, are large brick apartment buildings, while the buildings on Coles are small wooden houses.” (Joe L. Diaz Photo)

CTA 3250. According to Andre Kristopans, we are at the “70th St end of 69th carhouse.” (Robert W. Gibson Photo)

CSL 1817 is westbound on Harrison having just crossed the Chicago River. (Joe L. Diaz Photo)

CSL 5708 on the Hammond-Whiting-East Chicago route, which got cut back to the state line in 1940.

CSL 3301 is westbound on 59th Street at Stewart, having just crossed under the Pennsy. (Joe L. Diaz Photo)

CSL 2619 on Brandon private right-of-way near 123rd Street. Bob Lalich adds, “CSL 2619 in image 896 is about to cross a short bridge just south of 126th St. Note that it has just met and passed a NB car in the siding north of the bridge. There was another siding at 122nd St on the Brandon line. I find it remarkable that there were two passing sidings located a half mile apart in the wetlands between Hegewisch and the East Side.” (Joe L. Diaz Photo)

CSL 929 and 1077 are on Balmoral at Ravenswood, and we are looking east. (Joe L. Diaz Photo)

CSL 3251 and 3276 on 61st Street near State. (Joe L. Diaz Photo)

CSL 3320 on the 67-69-71 route, “crossing South Chicago Av on Anthony,” according to Andre Kristopans. On the other hand, Bob Lalich says, “CSL 3320 is crossing South Chicago Ave on a very short street called Keefe Ave. which goes under the NYC/PRR elevation in a viaduct. Anthony runs parallel to the NYC/PRR elevation on the south.”

CSL 5708 is southbound on Exchange Avenue at 74th Street, running parallel to the Illinois Central electric suburban service (now the Metra Electric).

CSL 3251is southbound on State Street at 61st. The date is early 1948, shortly after the CTA takeover, as evidenced by the sign referring to the upcoming aldermanic election. (Joe L. Diaz Photo)

CSL 2802 is westbound on 119th Street. Andre Kristopans says, “a block or so west of Morgan, about where the new Salvation Army center now is. Looks like a State/Lake car in the far background at Morgan.”

CSL 2589 on Chicago’s far south side. For some reason, “Keep to right” is scrawled on the back of the car. Andre Kristopans says, “2589 on Indiana crossing Calumet River at 132nd. This was a single track on what would be the NB lane, so the “keep to right” would have been to warn drivers that passing a SB car on left might not be a good idea.” (Joe L. Diaz Photo)

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9 thoughts on “Chicago Streetcars in Black-and-White, Part 6”

5710 – SB on Coles at 79th. Tracks curving to left were used by Windsor Park cars, 5710 will curve onto 79th to the right. Note that buildings on South Shore, a block to the right, are large brick apartment buildings, while the buildings on Coles are small wooden houses.

3250 – 70th St end of 69th carhouse

2811 – south of 123rd. The filling station visible behind the car with the overhang burned down in 2013.

3320 – Crossing South Chicago Av on Anthony

3193 – Navy Pier is WAY east of McClurg – better description would be east of Outer Drive

2518 – probably Ewing/108th terminal. Definitely at end of line, definitely not
Hegewisch.

2802 – a block or so west of Morgan, about where the new Salvation Army center now is. Looks like a State/Lake car in the far background at Morgan.

2589 on Indiana crossing Calumet River at 132nd. This was a single track on what would be the NB lane, so the “keep to right” would have been to warn drivers that passing a SB car on left might not be a good idea.

The photo of CSL 5708 is very interesting. I think the street is Sheffield but I can’t place the exact location. The railroad crossbuck on the left edge is a clue. The PRR Wolf Lake-Hammond Branch crossed Sheffield near 136th St. Hard to say with certainty if that is the spot though.

CSL 3320 is crossing South Chicago Ave on a very short street called Keefe Ave. which goes under the NYC/PRR elevation in a viaduct. Anthony runs parallel to the NYC/PRR elevation on the south.

CSL 2619 in image 896 is about to cross a short bridge just south of 126th St. Note that it has just met and passed a NB car in the siding north of the bridge. There was another siding at 122nd St on the Brandon line. I find it remarkable that there were two passing sidings located a half mile apart in the wetlands between Hegewisch and the East Side.

[…] service (today’s Metra Electric). There is another picture of the same car in our post Chicago Streetcars in Black-and-White, Part 6 (May 11, 2015), which explains why 2589 has “keep to right” scrawled on it. That was to […]